Game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game machine capable of reducing the operating expenses by carrying out the dispense of pachinko balls by a single pachinko ball dispenser, and capable of dispensing pachinko balls efficiently; and a pachinko ball dispenser adapted to accurately and speedily dispense an optional number of pachinko balls used in this machine. A game machine (40) has a pachinko ball dispenser (101) adapted to recieve a dispensing signal which is outputted from a controller (50) on the basis of a money signal from a rental ball dispensing unit (30), and a prize signal which is also outputted from the controller (50) on the basis of prescribed rules, counts pachinko balls the munber of which corresponds to these signals and dispenses pachinko balls into a player&#39;s ball tray (11). The pachinko ball dispenser (101) has a rotatable ratchet wheel (110) facing the interior of a pachinko ball passage (171) and provided in the periphery thereof with concave portions (110a) in each of which one pachinko ball is fitted, this ratchet wheel being rotated continuously until the number of dispensed balls has reached to an ordered number, then switched to intermittent rotation, and stopped when the number of dispensed balls has reached the ordered number.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game machine comprising a rent balldispensing unit for dispensing pachinko balls equivalent to an amount ofmoney put into slot of the dispensing unit by a player, a game machine(especially a slot machine using a pachinko ball) using a pachinko ballas game medium insted of a medal and a controller for controlling therent ball dispensing unit and the game machine collectively.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus fordispensing pachinko balls with counting a prescribed number of pachinkoballs so as to do automatically supplying pachinko balls to a gamemachine, dispensing prize balls from the game machine and dispensingrental balls from a rent ball dispensing unit.

BACKGROUND ART

In the prior art of the slot machine using patinko balls as game medium(hereinafter referred to as pachinko slot machine), at the bigining ofthe game, a game player puts coins into the slot of a rental balldispenser provided in the side part of the pachinko slot machine, then arental ball counter in the rental ball dispenser counts the pachinkoballs equivalent to the amount of money throwing in the slot of thedispenser and the dispenser dispenses the counted pachinko balls, andthen the player takes them in a ball tray mounted on a front part of thepachinko slot machine.

Recently a swingable pipe supplys pachinko balls from the rental balldispenser to the ball tray of the pachinko slot machine, thereforepachinko balls can be supplied from the rental ball dispenser to thegame machine. Furethermore a prize ball counter is mounnted within thegame machine.

A regular number of pachinko balls are supplied in an upper tray mountedon the upper part of the back side of the game machine and they aredispensed as prize balls. Pachinko balls in a supplying gutter mountedon a game machine island are standed in a line in each shoot and whenthe upper tray of the game machine is empty, an empty signal istransmitted to a main computer and the pachinko balls are provided inthe upper tray by a pipe means what is called bellows, under controllingof the main computer, via a supply ball counter mounted on a gamemachine island portion above the game machine. Pachinko balls in theupper tray are standed in a line and also provided to the prize ballcounter of the game machine.

For the rental ball counter, pachinko balls in the supply gutter arestanded in a line by the shoot and are sent to the counter via bellowswhich connect the shoot with the counter so pachinko balls are dispensedcorresponding to the amount of the money put into a slot of thedispenser.

As a pachnko ball dispenser (what is to say ball counter), generally insaid game machine and rent ball dispenser, for automatic supplying ofpachinko balls to a game machine, dispensing prize balls from the gamemachine and dispensing pachinko balls from a rental ball dispenser, theapparatus disclosed in the Published Unexamined Utility ModelApplication of Provisional Publication No. Showa 61 (1986)-82678 is wellknown to the art. In this invention, a sprocket formed plural concaveportions in its periphery, each concave portion catches one pachinkoball, is mounted rotatably so that concave portions may face an interiorof a pachinko ball passage. In the passage, pachinko balls dropping withthe gravity are catched separately with the concave portions and thesprocket is surely rotated by the pachinko ball. The pachinko balls aredetected and counted by an optical sensor provided in a downstream partof the passage, and a prescribed number of the pachinko balls aredischareged from the lower portion of the passage by controllingrotation of the sprocket. Control of rotation of the sprocket is done bylocking and unlocking the sprocket with a stopper.

Releasing the stopper, the pachinko balls fall down to the lower part ofthe passage with rotating the sprocket continuously and are dispensedfrom the lower portion. When the optical senser counts a prescribednumber of the pachinko balls, the stopper locks the sprocket and thedispense of the pachinko balls is stopped. Although, in this case, thestopper must be locked the sprocket timely after the optical sensercounts a prescribed number of the pachinko balls or before the countingis finished, but passing speed of the pachinko balls are uneven and theworking of the stopper solenoid is delayed (by dust and/or a change withthe passage of time); therefore a correct dispense of the pachinko ballsis difficult.

The abovementioned prior art needs the shoot and bellows for supplyingpachinko balls from the gutter to the counters separately since therental ball counter and the prize ball counter are providedindividually; furthermore, the prior art needs to mount another supplycounter and an upper tray on an upper part of a game machine thereforean amount of work and the cost of production are incleased.

In the case of dispensing pachinko balls by a prize ball counter,pachinko balls in a supply gutter are once standed in a line in a shootand stored in an upper tray in a scattered state, and then the balls areagain standed in a line to be passed to the prize ball counter;therefore not a few time is needed to dispense pachinko balls, and solarge amount dispense of the balls is not efficent, and troubles such asball jaming, etc. inclease.

Furthermore in the prior art pachinko ball dispenser, after theprescribed number of the pachinko balls have counted until said stopperstops the rotation of the sprocket, the sprocket rotates more than onetooth (one concave portion) passing; therefore sometimes excess ballsare dispensed.

Another ball counter can dispense a prescribed number of pachinko balls:for example, 100, 400, or 25 balls, but cannot dispense a desired numberof balls. In this case, if the ten teeth sprocket is provided stopersevery five teeth, pachinko balls are able to be dispensed as a unit offive balls; 25 pachinko balls are dispensed by twe times and halhrotations of the sprocket; 100 pachinko balls are dispensed by ten timesrotations of the sprocket, and 400 balls are dispensed by forty timesrotations of the sprocket, but it is impossible to dispense elevenballs, thirteen balls, etc., such as prize balls of pachinko.

In view of foregoing, it is the object of this invention to provide agame apparatus having only one pachinko ball dispenser, which dispensespachinko balls efficiently and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pachinko balldispenser which dispenses the optionally ordered number of pachinkoballs accurately and fast.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The point of the present invention to accomplish theforegoing and otherobjects are as follows.

A game apparatus (10) comprising a rental ball dispensing unit (30) forinstructing the dispense of pachnko balls equivalent to an amount ofmoney put into a slot of the dispensing unit by a player, a game machine(40) using pachinko balls as game medium, and a controller (50) forcontrolling the rental ball dispensing unit (30) and the game machine(40) collectively, wherein said rental ball dispenser (30) having amoney identification means (31) identifying an amount of money put intothe dispensing unit and feeding a money sinal or ball signal equivalentto the amount of the money to the controller, said game machine (40)having a pachinko ball dispenser (101) receiving signals: a rentalsignal, corresponding to the money signal from the money identificationmeans (31), transmitted from said controller (50) and a prize signaltransmitted from said controller (50) under prescribed rules, anddispensing pachinko balls into a ball tray (11) with counting the amountof the pachinko balls corresponding to said signals.

The game machine, including an overflow sensor (70) for detecting theball tray of the game machine being filled with the pachinko ballsdispensed from said pachinko ball dispenser (101) and for stoppingdispense of pachinko balls with the pachinko ball dispenser via thecontroller after feeding a fixed amount detected signal to thecontroller, and a gained pachinko ball display section. (80) forindicating the amount of left pachinko balls after subtracting thenumber of dispensed pachinko balls, from the dispenser (101) into saidball tray (11), from the total number of dispense pachinko balls.

A game machine (10) including a recording media issuing machine (90) forrecording the number of player's all keeping balls or the sum ofpachinko balls indicated with said gained pachinko ball display section(80) and the pachinko balls in said ball tray on a recording medium, andfor giving the recorded recording medium to the player.

A game apparatus (10), in which said game machine (40) is supplied withpachinko balls by a supply gutter (1) mounted in an game machine island,and said supply gutter (1) and said pachinko ball dispenser (101) isconnected with pipes (3, 4).

A method of dispensing the ordered number of pachinko balls by means ofa dispenser, the dispenser comprising a sprocket (110) formed pluralconcave portions (110a) in its periphery, each concave portion catchingone pachinko ball, mounted rotatably so the concave portions as to facethe interior of a pachinko ball passage (171), comprising the steps of:rotating said sprocket (110) by pachinko balls dropping with the gravityconsecutively, for continuous ball dispense, until the number ofdispensed balls has reached nearly the ordered number of pachinko balls;changing, after the number of dispensed balls reaches the orderednumber, the consecutive rotation of the sprocket to an intermittentrotation repeating an little angle rotation correspond to one movementof said concave portion and stop of the rotation; and stopping theintermittent rotation of the sprocket at the time the number ofdispensed balls reaches the ordered number of pachinko balls.

A pachinko ball dispenser dispensing the prescribed number of pachinkoballs comprising a sprocket formed plural concave portions in itsperiphery (110a), mounted rotatably so the concave portionsin as to theinterior of the pachinko ball passage for catching pachinko ballsdropping with the gravity one by one by each concave portion with surelyrotation of the sprocket, including:

a ratchet wheel (120), coupled with said sprocket, rotating with linkingwith the sprocket;

a main stopper (130), mounted movably on the side part of the ratchetwheel, for stopping rotation of the sprocket by moving one direction andengaging its one end with a tooth of the ratchet wheel;

a main operating means (150, 132) for moving said main stopper;

a sub-stopper (140), moving with linking with said main stopper as faras not to be pressed by over prescribed external force, for rotatingsaid sprocket only at an angle corresponding to a half movement of saidcocave portion by engaging one end of the sub-stopper with said tooth ofthe ratchet wheel if the main stopper disengaging from the ratchet wheelby moving the other direction;

a sub-operating means (160, 161) for moving said sub-stopper to thedirection disengaging the sub-stoper from the ratchet wheel by pressingthe sub-sutopper by external force over said prescrived force withoutthe movement of said main stoper;

a dispense detecting means for detecting and counting pachinko ballsdispensed from the lower portion of said pachinko ball passage;

a controller for maintaining disengaged state of said main stopper andsub-stopper from said sprocket by cntrolling the action of said mainoperating means and sub-operating means until the number of detecteddispensed balls reaching nearly the ordered number of pachinko balls,and for engaging the main stopper and/or the sub-stopper with thesprocket alternately by operating only the main operating meansintermittently, after the number of dispensed balls reaching the orderednumber of pachinko balls, until the number of detected dispensed ballsbeing in the same number of the ordered.

The above-mentioned pachinko ball dispenser, in which said mainoperating means and/or said sub-operating means comprises a solenoid(150, 160), and said controller has a drive circuit (190), which appliesan exciting voltage to said solenoide for operating said main stopperand/or said sub-stopper, for applying the exciting voltage larger than aholding voltage of said solenoid for prescribed time just after beginingof the driving and applying the holding voltage of said solenoid as theexciting voltage after passing said prescribed time.

The dispense of the pachinko balls from the dispenser (101) is done inaccordance with the signals of the controller (50): when the pachinkoball dispenser (101) recieves a rental signal from the controller (50),it counts the number of pachinko balls correspond to the rental signaland dispenses the balls into the ball tray (11).

The number of dispensed balls from the dispenser (101) corresponds toeach signal can be set up optionally by the controller (50); forexample, if the money signal from said money identification means (31)of the rental ball dispensing unit (30) is equivarent to 1000 yen, 250pachinko balls are dispensed, if the money signal is equivarent to 500yen, 125 pachinko balls are dispensed, if the money signal is equivarentto 100 yen, 25 pachinko balls are dispensed. And the number of dispensedballs from the dispenser (101) corresponds to the prize signal,generated under prescribed rules by the controller, can be set upoptionally corresponding to the results of game such as 5, 10, 11, 13,15, 20, etc.

In the method of dispensing the pachinko balls, said sprocket (110) isrotated consecutively for continuous ball dispensing by the pachinkoballs dropping with the gravity until the number of dispensed ballsreaches nearly the ordered number, and after the reaching, the sprocketrotation is changed from the consecutive rotation to the intermittentrotation for dispensing a pachinko ball one by one; therefore, thedispensing of the excess balls caused to late stopping of the sprocketrotation is prevented.

Furthermore, the ordered correct number of pachinko balls can bedispensed and most of pachinko balls are dispensed fast by the rapidrotating of the sprocket; therefore, whole dispensing time can beshortened.

According to the pachinko ball dispenser of this invention, pachinkoballs being dispensed are detected and counted by a dispense detectingmeans (183), a disengaged state between said main stopper (130) and saidratchet wheel (120), and between said sub-sutopper (140) and the ratchetwheel are holded, until the counted number of dispensed balls reachesnearly the ordered number, by controlling said operating means andsub-operating means with said controller. Thus the sprocket continuesrapid rotation by falling of the pachinko balls; therefore, the pachinkoballs are dispensed rapidly and continuously until the number ofdispensed balls reaches near the operated number.

Then reaching the number of dispensed balls near the operated number,only said main operating means acts intermittently to engage alternatelysaid main stopper and/or sub-stopper with said sprocket. Then, everytime the main stopper disengages from the sprocket, the sub-stopperpermits the sprocket to rotate about the movement corresponding to thehalf of the concave portion and engages with the sprocket. In the sameway, when the sub-stopper disengages from the sprocket, the main stopperpermits the sprocket to rotate about the movement corresponding to thehalf of the concave portion and engages with the sprocket. In this wayevery time one cycle of the intermittent operation has done, thesprocket rotates about the movement corresponding to one concaveportion, and one pachinko ball is dispensed.

Then if the number of dispensed balls reaches the ordered number, theintermittent operation is stopped (being kept in the state that the mainstopper or the sub-stoper is engaged with the sprocket), and therotation of the sprocket (the dispense of the pachinko balls) isstopped. According to the pachinko ball dispenser of this invention,therefore, said dispensing method of this invention is carried out andthe fast and accurate automatic dispense of the patchinko balls ispermitted.

One pachinko ball dispenser (101) can count and dispense the pachinkoballs renting to players by the rental ball dispensing unit (30) and theprize balls which are dispensed under prescribed rules; therefore, therental ball dispensing unit (30) and the game machine do not need tohave individually a pachinko ball dispenser and/or means for supplyingpachinko balls.

In the case that an overflow sensor (70) is mounted on the game machine,the balls not held in a ball tray (11) are detected by the overflowsenser (70). This overflow senser (70) feeds a fixed amount detectedsignal to the controller (50) when it detects the ball tray (11) of thegame machine being filled with the pachinko balls, and stops dispense ofpachinko balls from the pachinko ball dispenser (101) via the controller(50).

When the pachinko ball dispenser (101) is stopped by the oveflow of theballs, a gained pachinko ball display section (80) indicats (for examplewith a digital indication, etc.) the amount of left pachinko balls aftersubtracting the number of dispensed pachinko balls, from the dispenserinto said ball tray (11), from the total number of dispense pachinkoballs. An excess pachinko ball flow, thereby, is prevented.

In the case that the game machine is equipped with a recording mediaissuing machine (90), the recording media issuing machine (90) recordsthe all number of player's keeping balls or the sum of pachinko ballsindicated with said gained pachinko ball display section and thepachinko balls in said ball tray on a recording medium, and gives therecorded recording medium to the player. The players, thereby, don'tneed to carry the pachinko balls about with them.

In the case that the supply gutter, mounted in the game machine island,supplies the pachinko balls to the game machine (40), a ball tray, asupply ball counter and so which are mounted the upper back of the priorgame machine (40) are unnecessary, and an amount of work is reduced byconnecting the supply gutter (1) with the pachinko ball dispenser (101)by means of a pipe means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view of a game machine of an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a game machine of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a game machine of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a inserted ball counter (comprising fourcounters) built in a game machine of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the construction of a pachinko balldispenser.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line B--B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line D--D of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line C--C of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged prespective view showing the fixing condition ofa lever.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the timing of the operation of theinvention at the starting of a solenoid.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of a pachinko ball dispenser of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of the controller.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

One of the embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to drawings, FIGS. 1-13.

A game machine 10 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.2, comprises: a rental ball dispensing unit 30 which indicatesdispensing of the pachinko balls equivalent to the amount of the moneyput into the dispensing unit by a player; a game machine 40 usingpachinko balls as game medium such as a slot machine using a pachinkoball; and a controller 50 which controls centrally the rental balldispensing unit 30 and the game machine 40. The rental ball dispensingunit 30 and the game machine 40 are separate units in the presentembodiment, however, they may be constructed one.

In the front face of the rental ball dispensing unit 30, a paper moneyslot 32 and/or a coin slot 33 into which player put moneys and/or coins.And the rental ball dispensing unit 30 has a identifying means 31 whichidentifies the amount of the money put into the paper money slot 32and/or the coin slot 33 and feeds a money sinal equivalent to saidamount of the money to the controller 50.

Concretely speaking, the identifying means 31 is connected to thecontroler 50 so as to feed the money signals to the controller 50; themoney signals order the dispense of 25 pachinko balls when 100 yen isput into the rental ball dispensing unit 30, the dispense of 125 ballsfor 500 yen and 250 balls for 1000 yen.

The controller 50 is connected to a pachinko ball dispenser 101 so as tofeed rental signals which order the dispense of the prescribed number ofthe pachinko balls (25 balls for 100 yen, 125 balls for 500 yen and 250balls for 1000 yen) corresponding to the money signals from theidentifying means 31 of the rental ball dispensing unit 30 to saidpachinko ball dispenser 101.

The controller 50 also set up to feed a prize signal, under prescribedrules of the game machine 40, to the dispenser 101 and it to dispensethe prescribed number of the prize balls.

The game machine 40 is supplied with the pachinko balls via a supplyinggutter 1 mounted in a game island. A shoot 2 is fixed to the supplyinggutter 1 in place, and the shoot 2 and the dispenser 101 are connectedwith a bellows like pipe means and a zigzag pipe 4 reducing the flowingdown speed of the pachinko balls. Thus a tray for reserving pachinkoballs is not mounted on an upper portion of the game machine. The rentalball dispensing unit 30 is not supplied with the pachinko balls.

The pachinko ball dispenser 101 can dispense the optionaly orderednumber pachinko balls corectly and fast. Concretely, as shown in FIG. 5,the principal compositions of the dispenser 101 are a sprocket 110mounted in a frame 102, a ratchet wheel 120, a main stopper 130, asub-stopper 140, a couple of a main solenoid 150 and a sub-solenoid 160,a ball guide 170 pierced vertically one side of the frame 102, detectingmeans 181, 182, 183 mounted the inside of tha frame 102 or the ballguide 170, and a controll means (not shown) attached the inside of theframe 102 or separately.

The sprocket 110 is formed ten concave portions 110a in its periphery,and it is supported rotatably by a sprocket shaft 111 mountedholizontaly in the frame 102 so as to face the concave portions to theinterior of a pachinko ball passage 171 for catching pachinko balls oneby one with each concave portion. A cross section of the pachinko ballpassage 171 is formed only one pachinko ball to pass the passage 171remaining a little gap between the ball and the inner wall of thepassage 171, and the periphery of the sprocket 110 faces the interior ofthe passage 171 according to the pasage; therefore, the pachinko balldropping in the passage 171 from the upstream with gravity is caught inthe concave portion 110a and the sprocket is surely rotated. Further, atthe position near the sproket 110, a slanted section 171a protrudinginside is provided on an inside wall surface of the passage 171. Wherethe slanted section 171a exists, the pachinko balls take a passagenearer to the sprocket 110 within the passage 171 and fit precisely intothe concave portions 110a.

As shown in FIG. 7, teeth 120a of the same number of the concaveportions 110a of said sprocket 110 are formed on the periphery of theratchet wheel 120. The ratchet wheel 120 is fixed to the sprocket 110,so as not to interfere with the ball guide 170, by an output shaft 121being inserted with the shaft of sprocket 110 and is supported by thesprocket shaft 111. Thus, the ratchet wheel 120 and the sprocket 110 arecomposed to rotate as one. Small holes 120b for passing detecting lightfor the detecting means 181 are provided corresponding to each of cogsat the periphery of the ratchet wheel 120. As shown in FIG. 5, the phaserelationship of the ratchet wheel 120 and the sprocket 110 is such thatwhen the main stopper 130 is engaged with the ratchet wheel 120, the tipends (the jutted out portion between concave portions 110a) of thesprocket 110 are positioned on corresponding left and right cogs.

The rotation of the sprocket 110 and the ratchet wheel 120 is controledby a governor 122. The governor 122 is swingably mounted at its base endportion 122a to a governor axis 123. From the base end portion 122a,engaging pieces 122b, 122c which are engageable with the concaveportions of the sprocket 110 extend to left and right. At a top surfaceof the base end portion 122a, a disc-form weight 124 having a largeinertia is provided. The governor 122 swings about a governor axis withthe rotation of the sprocket 110; the engaging pice 122b and theengaging pice 122c engage with the periphery of the sprocket 110alternately. Therefore, as one pachinko ball passes, the sprocket 110rotates by an angle of one concave portion 110a.

The main stopper 130 is swingably mounted on a stopper axis 131 which isparallel to the shaft 111 of the sprocket 110. The main stopper 130engages at its tip 130a with the ratchet wheel 120 at the undersideafter turning counterclockwise. The turning is done by the force from aspring 132 wound around the stopper axis 131.

The sub-stopper 140 is fixed to a stopper axis 131 in a condition freeto turn. In a position turned clockwise, a tip portion 140a engages withthe periphery of the ratchet wheel 120. The base end portion of thesub-stopper 140 ia pressed against a bottom of the main stopper 130 bythe urging force of a spring 141 wound around the stopper axis 131.Thus, as long as a force not exceeding the urging force of the spring141 is operated on, the sub-stopper 140 is linked to tha main stopper130 and turned together in the same direction. As long as the sub-stoper140 is linked to the main stopper 130, the tip portion 140a engages withthe ratchet wheel 120 at the left upper portion when the coupling of themain stopper 130 eith the ratchet wheel 120 is released by clockwiseturning. In this connection, it is to be noted the accurate timing ofthe movement is such that the sprocket 110 and the ratchet wheel 120 areallowed to turn by an angle corresponding to half of tha concave portion110a after the engagement with the main stopper 130 is released andbefore the engagement with the sub-stopper 140 is completed.

The main solenoid 150 has its output axis 150a connected to the base endportion of the main stopper 130. When the main solenoid 150 is excited,it works towards the direction where the output axis 150a sinks, andturns the main stopper 130 clockwise. When the main solenoid 150 is notdriven, the main stopper 130 is restored to the position to engage withthe ratchet wheel 120 by the urging force of the spring 132. The mainsolenoid 150 and the spring 132 constitute the main drive means in thepresent invention.

The sub-solenoid 160 can operate a force exceeding the urging force ofthe spring 141 on the sub-stopper 140 via the lever 161. Thus, theconnection to ratchet wheel 120 can be released by turning thesub-stopper 140 counterclockwise, irrespective of the position of themain stopper 130 at that moment. As shown in FIG. 8, a elongated hole140b is provided in the tip of the sub-sutopper 140, and a click 161aprovided on the top of the lever 161 is engaged with the elongated hole140b. The lever 161 is rotatably supported about a lever axis 162 andturned when it is pulled by output axis 160a. When the sub-solenoid isoperated and the lever 161 is turned clockwise, the sub-stopper 140 isturned counterclockwise by the push of said click 161a. The spring 163urges the lever 161 counterclockwise. Therefore, when the drive of thesub-solenoid 160 is released, the lever 161 returns by this urging forceto the position not letting the sub-stopper 140 turn. The sub-solenoid160 and the lever 161 constitute the sub driving means of the presentinvention.

The detecting means 181, constructed including a photo-electric switch,is for detecting the rotation of one concave portion 110a of thesprocket 110. The detecting means 181 detects the rotation of an anglecorresponding to one of tha concave portion 110a of the sprocket 120 byemmiting detecting light at the position where the small holes 120b ofthe ratchet wheel 120 pass and detecting the light. The detecting means182, constructed including a photo-electric switch, is for detecting thesupplying condition of the pachinko balls. The detecting means 182detects the supplying condition of the pachinko balls by emittingdetecting light at the position just after a pachinko ball is engagedwith a concave portion 110a of the sprocket 110 and detecting thatlight. The detecting means 183 is for detecting the dispensing of thepachinko balls. The detecting means 183 is constructed including aluminescent section for emiting detecting light at the position where apachinko ball is just released from the concave portion 110a, and alight receiving section for receiving the light. It constituts adispensing means of this invention. The detecting means 183 detectsaccurately the dispense of pachinko balls, however, the number ofdispensed balls can be detected indirectly by the detecting means 181.

The control means is for controlling the operation of the main solenoid150 or sub-solenoid 160. The control means comprises a micro computeretc., and controls the operation of the main solenoid 150 orsub-solenoid 160 according to a flow chart shown in FIG. 13 afterreceiving the dispensing order or the detection result of the detectingmeans 183 and so on.

A drive circuit 190, constructed as shown in FIG. 12, is for actuallyapplying an exciting voltage to each of the main slenoid 150 and thesub-solenoid 160. The drive circuit 190 is constructed such that a coil150b of the main solenoid 150 or a coil 160b of the sub-solenoid 160 anda switching circuit 193 are connected in series between a direct currentpower supply 191 and a ground 192.

The switching circuit 93 is provided with two NPN transistor 194 and 195connected in parallel. Between the base electrode of the transistor 194and an input terminal 196, a buffer 197, a differentiating circuit 198,a buffer 199, and a resistance 200 are provided. On the other hand,between the base electrode of the transistor 195 and the input terminal196, a buffer 201 and a resistance 202 are provided. Further, betweenthe coil 150b and a collector electrode of the transistor 195, aresistance 203 is provided.

The input terminal 196 is a terminal where the drive instruction (ONsignal) of the main solenoid 150 or sub-solenoid 160 is inputted fromthe control means. The differentiating circuit 198 is constructed from acapacitor 198a, a resistance 198b, and a clipping diode 198c, and iswell known. The differentiating circuit 198 outputs ON after a fixedtime has passed from the point where the input terminal 196 became ON.Furthermore, this fixed time is determined according the time constantof the differentiating circuit 198. In the present embodiment, saidfixed time made somewhat longer than the time needed for the output axisof the main solenoid 150 or that of the sub-solenoid 160 to move fromthe yet-to-start position to the starting position. In this case, forexample, if the supply voltage of the direct current power supplu is24V, the resistance of the main solenoid 150 or sub-solenoid 160 is 48Ω,the rated voltage is 12V (the rated current is 250 mA), and the holdingvoltage is 6.1V (the holding current is 128 mA), then resistance 203 maybe 140Ω.

The ball guide 170 of the pachinko ball dispenser 101, as shown in FIG.1, is connected to a prize ball dispensing port 12 of the tray 11 via apipe means 5 such as bellows.

An overflow detector 70 is set in the middle of the pipe means 5 whichconnects the tray 11 to the pachinko ball dispenser 101. As the overflowdetector 70 detects the tray being filled with the pachinko ballsdispensed from the pachinko ball dispenser 101, it feeds a fixed amountdetected signal to the controller 50. Then the controller 50 stops thepachinko ball dispensing by the pachinko ball dispenser 101.

The overflow detector 70 includes a sensor which detects the pachinkoballs jammed into the pipe means 5, not being dispensed from the prizeball dispense port 12, when the tray 11 is filled with the balls. Theoverflow detector 70 is connected to the controller 50 for feeding anoverflow signal to it when the balls are jammed into the pipe means 5.When the controller 50 recieves the overflow signal from the overflowdetector 70, it feeds a stopping signal to the pachinko ball dispenser101 for stopping the act of the dispenser 101 at once.

As shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 3, a gained pachinko ball display section 80 ismounted on the front portion of the game machine 40. When the dispensingof the dispenser 101 is stopped, the gained pachinko ball displaysection 80 indicates, according to the order from the controller 50, theamount of left pachinko balls after subtracting the number of dispensedpachinko balls, from the dispenser into said tray, from the total numberof dispense pachinko balls. The gained pachinko ball display section 80consists of seven segments LED for digital indicating of said amount ofleft pachinko balls.

There is two system for indicating the amount of left pachinko balls asthe tray 11 is filled with the balls; one indicates the counted leftballes at once, the other indicates the left balls one by one withcounting up them. For example, in the case of dispensing 250 pachinkoballs into the tray 11 by the pachinko ball dispenser 101, if theoverflow detector 70 detects the pachinko balls jammed into the pipemeans 5 at the moment when 183 balls have dispensed, left 67 balls areindicated in the former system. On the other hand, in the later system,the tray 11 is supplied with balls additionaly if the balls in the traydecrease during the indicating of the left balls with counting up themone by one; therefore, the final number indicated with the gainedpachinko ball display section 80 is sometimes smaller than 67.

In a gaming face 41, as shown in FIG. 3, variable display sections 41awhich indicate many kinds of pattarns are mounted. Pattarns beingindicated in the variable display sections 41a bigin change by pushing astarting lever 42. Pattarns changing of each variable display sections41a can be stopped individually with stopping switches 45 correspondingto each display section.

The game machine 40 is set that the controller 50 receives the prizeballs dispense order according to the prescribed dispense rate (therules of game) if prescribed combination of the patterns being indicatedon said each variable display sections 41a according to prescribed rulesare lined on some win lines by stopping the changing patterns of thedisplay sections with stoping switches 45. The controller 50 is set tofeed a prize signal, according to the prescribed dispense rate, to thepachinko ball dispenser 101. A prize ball display section 81 whichindicates the number of the prize balls dispensed from the pachinko balldispenser 101 is provided in the lower portion of the gaming face 41.

Furthermore, the game machine 40, at its front side, comprises a ballinserting switch 44 for inserting pachinko balls from a ball insertingport 13, provided in the tray 11, to the inside of the game machine 40,and an inserted ball number display section 82 for displaying theinserted ball number.

At the inner side of the ball inserting port 13 of the tray 11, aninserted ball counting means (four counters) 20 for quick counting ofthe inserted balls into the inside of the game machine 40 is provided.The inserted bal counting means comprises a take-in stage 21, anintroduction path 22 whose starting end is connected to the take-instage 21, a line up rails 23, 23 . . . set in paralel in four lines inthe introduction path 22, inserted ball detecting sensors 24 provided atthe terminating end of each line up rail 23, and a dispensing stage 35connected to the terminating end of the introduction path 22.

A shutter member 26 is provided between an exit of the take-in stage 21and the starting end of the introduction path 22. The shutter member 26is driven by a rotary solenoid (not shown in the drawinds), and isconstructed in such a way that it is able to open and shut. When theshutter member 26 is shut, the pachinko balls within the take-in stage21 cannot flow into the introduction path 22.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a recording medium issuing unit 90 isprovied at the lower portion of the rental ball dispensing unit 30. Whena calculating switch 46 (shown in FIG. 3) is pushed to finish the game,the recording medium issuing unit 90 receives the signal from thecontroller 50, and records the number of player's all keeping balls orthe sum of pachinko balls indicated with said gained pachinko balldisplay section 80 and the pachinko balls in said tray 11 on a recordingmedium such as card or sheet and so on, and issues the recordedrecording medium to the player. Then the pachinko balls in the tray 11is counted by the inserted ball counting means 20.

The summary of the operation of the embodiment will be explained next.

When the money is put into the rental ball dispensing unit 30 coupledwith the game machine 40, the money signal equivalent to the amount ofthe money is feeded to the controller 50. When 100 yen is put into therental ball dispensing unit 30, the money signal ordering 25 ballsdispense is feeded to the controller 50. If the money is 500 yen, themoney sinal is one ordering 125 balls dispense. For 1000 yen the moneysignal is one ordering 250 balls dispense.

When the controller 50 receives the money signal from the identifyingmeans 31 of the rental ball dispensing unit 30, the controller 50 feedsthe rental signal which orders the dispense of the prescribed number ofthe pachinko balls corresponding to the money signals to the ballcounting means 60, and then the pachinko ball dispenser 101 dispensesthe prescribed number of pachinko balls. The number of tha pachinkoballs dispensed from the dispenser 101 according to the money signal isable to set optionally by the controller 50.

The overflow detector 70, as shown in FIG. 1 is set in the middle of thepipe means 5 which connects the prize ball dispense port 12 of the tray11 to the pachinko ball dispenser 101. Although 250 balls are dispensedfrom the dispenser 101 when 1000 yen is put into the rental balldispensing unit 30, all balls cannot go in the tray 11. In such a case,the pipe means 5 is jammed with the balls that cannot go in the tray 11.The overflow detector 70 detects the balls stopped in the pipe means 5,and feeds the overflow signal to the controller 50. Then the controller50 feeds the stopping signal to the pachinko ball dispenser 101, and thedispenser 101 stops the dispensing of the balls.

As the dispensing of the balls from the dispenser 101 stops, the gainedpachinko ball display section 80 indicates, according to the order fromthe controller 50, the amount of left pachinko balls after subtractingthe number of dispensed pachinko balls, from the dispenser into saidtray, from the total number of dispense pachinko balls.

As the system for indicating the number of the left balls, there is twomethods; one indicates the counted left balles at once, the otherindicates the left balls one by one with counting up them.

The pachinko balls put into the tray 11 go on top of the take-in stage21 of the inserted ball counting means 20 provided at the inner side ofthe ball tray 11, and are held there by the shutter member 26. When theplayer turns the ball inserting switch 43 to ON, to start the game, thecontroller 50 operates the rotary solenoid (not shown in the figures) toopen the shutter member 26. Then, the pachinko balls held on the take-instage 21 until then will flow along the line up rails 23. The insertedball detecting sensor 24 detects the pachinko balls inserted in this wayand outputs to the controller 50. After adding to this the number of thepachinko balls that have been inserted but not yet used in the game, thecontroller 50 digitally displays this calculated result on the insertedball number display section 82. The pachinko balls counted by theinserted ball counting means 20 will then flow into a gutter forcollecting via the stage 25 and a dumper for deceleration.

After inserting a desired number of pachinko balls into the game machine40, the player turns the ball inserting switch 43 to Off. Then, thecontroller 50 closes the shutter member 26 and stops the take in of theballs from the take-in stage 21. Then the player operates either one ofthe selecting switches 44. Then, the value to be displayed on theinserted ball number display section 82 is changed to the values wherethe taken-in number is subtracted. For example, when one of theselecting switch 44, "1", is pressed, the take in number is 5, and thevalue displayed on the inserted ball number display section 82 will beless by 5. When another selecting switch 44, "2" is pressed, the take innumber is 10, and the value displayed on the inserted ball numberdisplay section 82 will be less by 10. Further, if the other selectingswitch 44, "3", is pressed, the take in number is 15, and the valuedisplayed on the inserted ball number display section 82 will be less by15.

The gaming lines are decided by the selected taken-in number inaccordance with the prescribed rules, and the lines are displayed on thegaming face 41. When the starting lever 42 is operated in thiscondition, controller 50 starts the changing patterns of the variabledisplay sections 41a, and then they will stop individually by pushingstoping switches 45 one by one. After the changing has stopped, thecontroller 50 determines the number of the prize balls in accordancewith the patterns alined on the gaming lines and outputs the prizesignal to the pachinko ball dispenser 101 for dispensing the prizeballs. The pachinko ball dispenser 101 will dispense the determinednumber of the prize balls to the tray 11 in accordance with the prizesignal.

Thus, the pachinko ball dispenser 101 can count and dispense both therental balls to be rented for the player by the rental ball dispensingunit 30 and the pachinko balls in accordance with the prescribed rulesas the prize balls; therefore, there is no need to mount individuallythe means for supplying pachinko balls and the pachinko ball dispenser101 to the rental ball dispensing unit 30 and the game machine 40.

When the tray 11 is filled with the prize balls, the overflow detector70 detects the condition of the tray 11 and the pachinko ball dispenser101 stops ball dispensing. The number of undispensed balls are added tothe indicated number of the gained pachinko ball display section 80. Atthe same time, the number of dispensed prize balls are indicated by theprize ball display section 81. Thus, this embodiment can prevent theexcess pachinko balls flowing and decrease an accident such as pachinkoball jamming; therefore, the present embodiment can dispense thepachinko balls efficiently and players can enjoy the game withoutinterruptions.

When the inserted ball number indicated by the inserted ball numberdisplay section 82 becomes zero or under the number needed for the onegamming, the player cannot to play game. In this case, if the playerinserts the pachinko balls in the tray 11 into the inside of the gamemachine 40 by pushing the ball inserting switches 43, the inserted ballcounting means 20 counts the inserted balls and the number of the ballsis indicated by the inserted ball number display section 82, and he canresume the game.

If the tray 11 emptied, the player cannot continue the game. But in thecase that the number of the balls are indicated by the inserted ballnumber display section 82, the player can play the game. Three methodfor continuing the game in above case are explained hereinafter.

In first method, a detecting means (not shown) for detecting pachinkoballs in the tray 11 is mounted on the tray 11. When the tray emptys, anempty signal is feeded to the controller 50, and the controller 50outputs a supplying signal to the pachinko ball dispenser 101. And then,the pachinko ball dispenser 101 starts the dispensing balls. The ballsfor supplying are dispensed until the indicated number on the gainedpachinko ball display section 80 becomes zero. The balls are counted oneby one and the indicated number is decreased by the just number of thedispensed balls.

Thus, if the tray 11 empties, it is automatically supplied with pachinkoballs, and a player can continue the game. If the tray 11 is filled withthe dispensed pachinko balles in the halfway of dispensing and theoverflow detector 70 detects the condition of the tray 11, thedispensing of the balls into the tray 11 is stopped. Therefore, at thesame time, the subtracting indication of the gained pachinko balldisplay section 80 stops.

In second method, if the player makes next operation for playing thegame, the indicated number on the gained pachinko ball display section80 decreases at a constant speed with keeping the tray 11 empty. And thedecreased number is added to the indicated number on the inserted ballnumber display section 82. Therefore, the player can continue playingthe game, and if the prize balls are dispensed and the player pushes theball inserting switch 43, the pachinko balls are inserted and the numberof them counted by the inserted ball counting means 20 is added to theindication on the inserted ball number display section 82.

One method for detecting the balls in the tray 11 is such one in thefirst method mentioned above, and it needs the tray 11 having thedetecting means. In another method for detecting the balls in the tray11, the game machine is equipped with a timer (not shown). If no ballsare counted by the inserted ball counting means 20 within a prescribedtime after pushing the ball inserting switch 43, the indicated number onthe gained pachinko ball display section 80 is decreased automaticallyand the decreased number is added to the indicated number on theinserted ball number display section 82.

In third method, as the detecting overflowed balls by the overflowdetector 70 are stopped with the decreasing balls in the tray 11, thetray 11 is supplied with the pachinko balls until the indicated numberon the gained pachinko ball display section 80 is decreased to zero.Then, the decreased number is added to the indicated number on theinserted ball number display section 82.

When a player moves from the game machine in gaming to another gamemachine or wants exchange of his gained balls for pachinko prizes, hefinish playing game. If he wants to move the game machine in gaming toanother game machine, he need to position a ball container below apchinko ball dispensing port 14 under the ball tray 11. Then, if heoperates a ball dispensing lever 15, the take-in stage 21 drops towardthe ball tray 11; therefore, all the balls on the stage 21 and in theball tray 11 drop into the ball container through the pchinko balldispensing port 14.

If the ball tray 11 is empty and the indicated number on the gainedpachinko ball display section 80 is not zero, the pachinko balldispenser 101 dispenses balls into the ball tray 11, with detecting theballs in the ball tray 11 by the detecting means fixed in the ball tray11, until the indicated number on the gained pachinko ball displaysection 80 decreases to zero. The balls dispensed into the ball tray 11drop into the ball container, thus all the gained pachinko balls can bemoved into the ball container. The player can start game at another gamemachine carrying the container to the game machine.

On the other hand, when the player wants exchange of his gained ballsfor pachinko prizes, he needs to push the calculating switch 46 belowthe game face 41. If the calculating switch 46 is pushed, the shutter 26of the inserted ball counting means 20 will open and the pachinko ballsin the ball tray 11 flow to the line up rails 23. The pachinko ballsflows into the dispensing stage 25 after being counted by the insertedball detecting sensor 24, and then they flow into the gutter forcollecting.

The controller 50 adds the number of the counted balls to the indicatednumber on the gained pachinko ball display section 80. After countingand indicating the ball have been finished, the controller 50 adds theindicated number on the inserted ball number display section 82 to theindicated number on the gained pachinko ball display section 80 andreturns the indicated number on the inserted ball number display section82 to zero. Then the controller 50 feeds signals to the recording mediumissuing unit 90, and the unit 90 records necessary data such as the allgained balls of the player at the finish of game in a recording mediumsuch as a card or a receipt and issues the recording medium to theplayer. The player can exchange it for the pachinko prize at aexchanging corner. Thus, the player needs not carry the pachinko balls.

The summary of the operation of the pachinko ball dispenser willexplained next.

When the main solenoid 150 and sub-solenoid 160 are not driven, as shownin FIG. 5, the main stopper 130 is restored to the position to engagewith the ratchet wheel 120 by the urging force of the spring 132;therefore, the sprocket 110 is maintained in an inoperative state andthe pachinko balls will not be dispensed.

If N balls dispensing is ordered, the dispensing operation of the ballsby CPU of said controller 50 will be explained in detail using the flowchart of the FIG. 13. When dispensing prize balls, the controller 50outputs the instruction which starts the main solenoid 150 andsub-solenoid 160 to the each drive circuit (step 301. if the dispensingballs are less than the prescribed number, the controller 50 outputs theinstruction to only the drive circuit of the main solenoid 150.). Then,as shown in FIG. 11, both the transistor 194 and 195 of the drivecircuit 190 at the fixed time (kick section) mentioned earlier willbecome ON, and the supply voltage 24V will directly be impressed ontothe coil 150b of the main solenoid 150 and the coil 150b of thesub-solenoid. A large current (500 mA at the above condition) will flowmainly via the transistor 194. After passing the kick section, in themaintaining section, the controller 50 makes only the transistor 194 beOFF. In this condition, a small current (128 mA at the above condition)will flow through said each coil via the transistor 195, and theimpressed voltage will become the holding voltage of of 6.1V.

As a result, the main solenoid 150 and the sub-solenoid 160 operate, andthe main stopper 130 and the sub-stopper 140 will be released from theratchet wheel 120 to be maintained as shown in FIG. 8. Then sprocket 110continuously rotates at a fast speed by the weight of the pachinkoballs, and the pachinko balls are dispensed speedily one after another.However, the rotation of this sprocket 110 is controlled to a maximumspeed at which skidding does not occur, by the operation of the governor55 described earlier.

During dispensing of the pachinko balls, the controller 50 is countingthe number of pachinko balls (from now on referred to as "the dispensednumber") H dispensed until then, based on the detecting signal of thedetecting means 183. Then, this number is subtract from the number N ofpachinko balls (from now on referred as "set dispensing number"), and itis decided whether this difference (N-H) has become the previously setminute value (step 302). The minute value is preferred to be 2 to 5. Asa result of the decision, if the difference is at the minute value, thecontroller 50 controls the sub-solenoid 160 to be OFF, and the mainsolenoid 150 is intermittently operated until the dispensing number (N)equals the instructed value (step 303). The intermittent operation canbe done by sending a cyclic pulse signal for the main solenoid 150 tothe input terminal of the drive circuit.

When this kind of intermitent operation carried out, the main stopper130 and the sub-stopper 140 engages with the sprocket 110 alternately.In this case, the sprocket 110 turns bythe angle corresponding to halfthe concave portion 110a, from the time the engagement with the mainstopper 130 is released until being engaged with the sub-stopper 140.Similarly, the sprocket 110 turns by an angle corresponding to half theconcave portion 110a, from the time the engagement with the sub-stopper140 is released until being engaged with the main stopper 130.Therefore, as one cycle of an intermittent operation is made, onepachinko ball is dispensed.

When the controller 50 decides that the dispensing number N has reachedthe set dispensed number H, the controller 50 outputs the endingindication of the main solenoid 150 and the sub-solenoid 160 to thedrive circuit 190. According to this, the drive circuit 190 controls thetransistor 194 and the transistor 195 to be OFF and stops thedispensing.

Further, the supply condition of the pachinko balls in the ball passage170 is observed by the controller, having CPU, according to the outputsignal of the detecting means 182, although not shown in the flow chartin FIG. 13. In other words, when the supply of the pachinko balls to theball passage 170 is interrupted, the alarm signal is outputted, for somesuitable measures to be taken. Furthermore, the controller observeswhether one pachinko ball is dispensed corresponding to one rotation ofthe concave portion 110a of the sprocket 110, by comparing the outputsignal of the detecting means 181 and that of the detecting means 183.Thus, when skidding has occurred in the sprocket 110, this is detectedat once, making it possible to somehow cope with.

By means of the above-mentioned pachinko ball dispenser or the methodfor dispensing pachinko balls, until the dispensing number approachesthe dispensed number, the sprocket 110 is rotated continuously by theweight of the pachinko balls. Thus, the pachinko balls can be dispensedcontinuously at high speed during this time. When the dispensing numberapproaches the dispensed number, it changes to an intermittentoperation, and the pachinko balls are dispensed one by one. Therefore,no excess pachinko balls are dispensed because of a delay in stoppingthe rotation of the sprocket 110. The exact number of pachinko ballsaccording to the direction can be dispensed. Further, as most of thepachinko balls are dispensed at a condition where the sprocket 110 isrevolving at a high speed, the dispensing speed as a whole can be high.

Moreover, the reliability in operation of the main solenoid 150 and thesub-solenoid 160 is highly obtainable by the construction of the drivecircuit described earlier. The skidding of the wheel 110 is alsoprevented by the operation of the governor 122 described earlier.Troubles can be fastly dealt with by the processing based on thedetecting result of the detecting means 181 and the detecting means 182.

Industrial Applicability

The game machine of the game aparatus of the present invention has apachinko ball dispenser which receives a renting signal output from acontroller according to a money signal from a rental ball despensingunit and a prize signal output from the controller in accordance withprescribed rules, and the pachinko ball dispenser dispenses pachinkoballs according to said each signal into a ball tray; therefore, in onegame machine, dispensing of the pachinko balls can do by only onepachinko ball dispenser. And the parts of the game machine decreases,therefore, the cost of producing the game machine can be lowered, andthe accident such as pachinko ball jamming decreases. Thus, the presentinvention can dispense the pachinko balls efficiently and players canenjoy the game without interruptions.

Furethermore, using the method of dispensing the pachinko balls of thepresent invention, dispensing the optional number of the pachinko ballsaccurately and fast can be done by only a kind of dispenser; therefore,the method is most suitable for the game machine of this invention. Ifthe dispenser used at each necessary portion in a pachinko island, thedispensing operation of said each portion can be more accurate andfaster, and what is more, the cost of producing the pachinko island canbe lowered by using standardized pachinko ball dispensers.

We claim:
 1. A game machine, comprising:a pachinko ball dispensing unit;a game machine unit using pachinko balls as a game medium; means forintegrated control of said pachinko ball dispensing unit and said gamemachine; an overflow sensor means for outputting a signal for stoppingdispensing of said pachinko balls; a gained pachinko ball display; aninserted ball number display; recording media issuing means; saidpachinko ball dispensing unit having a money identification means foridentifying an amount of money placed into said pachinko ball dispensingunit and for sending to said control means an amount signalcorresponding to any one of said money amount placed into said pachinkoball dispensing unit and a ball signal equivalent to said amount ofmoney placed into said pachinko ball dispensing unit; said control meanshaving means for outputting a dispensing signal based on said amountsignal from said pachinko ball dispensing unit and for outputting aprize signal based on a set of predetermined rules; said game machineunit having a pachinko ball dispenser which has means for receiving saiddispensing signal outputted from said control means and said prizesignal also outputted from said control means, for calculating a numberof said pachinko balls which corresponds to said dispensing and prizesignals, and for dispensing said pachinko balls into a ball tray; saidoverflow sensor means having means for detecting a state of said balltray being filled with said pachinko balls dispensed from said pachinkoball dispenser and for stopping dispensing of said pachinko balls bysaid pachinko ball dispenser via said control means after sending a fillsignal to said control means; said gained pachinko ball display havingmeans for indicating an amount of said pachinko balls after subtractinga number of said pachinko balls dispensed into said ball tray from atotal number of said pachinko balls to be dispensed; said inserted ballnumber display having means for indicating an amount of said pachinkoballs inserted for gaming; and said recording media issuing means havingmeans for recording a number of player's total keeping balls, equal to asum of said pachinko balls indicated with said gained pachinko balldisplay and said pachinko balls in said ball tray, on a recordingmedium, and for electing a recorded recording medium.
 2. A game machineas claimed in claim 1, further comprising:a supply gutter mounted in agame machine island for supplying said game machine unit with saidpachinko balls, said supply gutter and said pachinko ball dispenserbeing connected together by pipes.
 3. The game machine as in claim 1,further comprising a gaming face, wherein said gaming face has variabledisplay sections for indicating various kinds of patterns.
 4. The gamemachine as in claim 3, further comprising stopping switches, whereinsaid stopping switches have means for stopping said patterns changing onsaid variable display sections.
 5. A pachinko ball dispenser fordispensing a prescribed number of pachinko balls, comprising:a pachinkoball passage; a sprocket formed with a plurality of peripheral concaveportions, wherein each peripheral concave portion of said plurality ofperipheral concave portions is for catching one falling pachinko ball,respectively, said sprocket being rotatably mounted with said concaveportions facing towards an interior of said pachinko ball passage; arachet wheel coupled to and rotated together with said sprocket; a mainstopper mounted movably on a side portion of said rachet wheel, forstopping rotation of said sprocket by engaging one end of said mainstopper with any one tooth of teeth of said ratchet wheel when saidratchet wheel moves in one direction; a main actuator means for movingsaid main stopper; a sub-stopper mounted to move together with said mainstopper when said sub-stopper is not pressed by an external force whichexceeds a prescribed force, said sub-stopper being adapted to rotatesaid sprocket only at an angle corresponding to one half of a width ofany one peripheral concave portion of said plurality of peripheralconcave portions by engaging one end of said sub-stopper with any onetooth of said teeth of said ratchet wheel when said main stopper comesout of said ratchet wheel by moving in a direction opposite to said onedirection; a sub-actuator means for moving said sub-stopper towards adirection to remove said sub-stopper from said ratchet wheel by pressingsaid sub-stopper with an external force greater than said prescribedforce regardless of a movement of said main stopper; a dispensing balldetecting means for detecting and counting said pachinko balls dispensedfrom a lower portion of said pachinko ball passage; a controller havingmeans for maintaining said main stopper and said sub-stopper in adisengaged state with said sprocket by controlling an action of saidmain actuator means and said sub-actuator means until a number ofdetected dispensed balls reaches an amount near to an ordered number ofsaid pachinko balls, and for, after said number of detected dispensedballs reaches an amount near to said ordered number of said pachinkoballs, engaging said main stopper and said sub-stopper with saidsprocket alternately by operating only one of each of said main actuatormeans and said sub-actuator means, so as to establish intermittentoperation.
 6. A pachinko ball dispenser as claimed in claim 5, furthercomprising:at least one of said main actuator means and saidsub-actuator means having a solenoid, said controller having a drivecircuit which has means for applying an exciting voltage to a respectivesolenoid for operating any one of a respective main stopper, arespective sub-stopper, and both said respective main stopper and saidrespective sub-stopper, for applying said exciting voltage larger than aholding voltage for said solenoid for a prescribed time just afterbeginning driving and for applying said holding voltage of said solenoidas said exciting voltage after passing of said prescribed time.
 7. Amethod of dispensing an ordered number of pachinko balls, comprising thesteps of:providing a dispenser having a sprocket formed with a pluralityof peripheral concave portions, each peripheral concave portion of saidplurality of periperhal concave portions for catching one fallingpachinko ball, respectively, said sprocket being rotatably mounted witheach of said peripheral concave portion of said plurality of peripheralconcave portions facing towards an interior of a pachinko ball passageand having a main stopper and a sub-stopper for controlling rotation ofsaid sprocket; disengaging said main stopper and said sub-stopper fromsaid sprocket for continuously rotating said sprocket by dropping saidpachinko balls within said pachinko ball passage to continuouly rotatesaid sprocket until a number of said pachinko balls dispensed reaches anamount which is near to a number of said pachinko balls ordered;changing said continuous rotation of said sprocket to an intermittentrotation repeating a small angle of rotation corresponding to a movementof one of each of said peripheral concave portion of said plurality ofperipheral concave portions by alternately engaging said main stopperand said sub-stopper with said sprocket and disengaging said mainstopper and said sub-stopper from said sprocket; and stopping saidintermittent rotation of said sprocket to stop rotation of said sprocketwhen said number of said pachinko balls dispensed is equal to saidnumber of said pachinko balls ordered.